Battle of Lingling

The Battle of Lingling was fought in 208 AD when the army of Liu Bei laid siege to the city of Lingling in Jing Province as part of his conquest of the province from Cao Cao's vassals. Liu Bei and his army defeated the Governor of Lingling Liu Du and forced him to surrender, his first step in taking over the rest of Jing Province.

Background
In 208 AD, following the Battle of Chibi and the Battle of Nanjun, the warlord Liu Bei was in a position to conquer all of Jing Province, having defeated Cao Cao's massive navy and outwitted Sun Quan's strategist Zhou Yu. Liu Bei reunited with his old friend Yi Ji, who advised him to take the brothers Ma Liang and Ma Su into his service. Ma Liang advised Liu Bei to name Liu Qi as Imperial Protector of Jingzhou before conquering Wuling, Changsha, Guiyang, and Lingling. Ma Liang advised Liu Bei to first take Lingling west of the River Xiang, and then focus on the other cities. Liu Bei made Ma Liang the Assistant Imperial Protector with Yi Ji as his second, and he sent Liu Qi to Xiangyang so that Guan Yu could be free to return. Zhang Fei was assigned to lead the van in attacking Lingling, with Zhao Yun guarding the rear and Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang commanding the main force. 15,000 troops were left in Jingzhou, while Mi Zhu and Liu Feng were left to hold Jiangling.

Battle
Governor Liu Du of Lingling planned to defend Lingling from Liu Bei's attack, and his son Liu Xiang advised him to send out Xing Daorong to challenge Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun. Liu Xiang and 10,000 troops made camp ten miles from Lingling, and he sent Xing Daorong forth to challenge Zhuge Liang when he arrived with his force. Zhuge Liang lured Xing Daorong into a trap with a feigned retreat, and Zhang Fei ambushed and routed him. Zhao Yun captured Xing Daorong as he attempted to flee, and Zhuge Liang offered to free Xing Daorong if he could capture Liu Xiang for him. Instead, Ding Xaorong colluded with Liu Xiang to set an ambush for Zhuge Liang's army at their main camp. Zhuge Liang launched a fire attack on Liu Xiang's camp, and, while Liu Xiang hoped to attack Zhuge Liang's stockade, he was attacked by Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun slew Xing Daorong and Zhang Fei captured Liu Xiang, who blamed the trickery on Xing Daorong. Liu Xiang was then sent back to the city to persuade his father to surrender, lest the city be destroyed and everyone be put to death. Liu Du immediately surrender, and Liu Bei allowed him to continue serving as Governor, although Liu Xiang was sent to serve in Liu Bei's army at Jingzhou.